Givenchy really is on a winning streak lately. The Spring 2011 Couture collection was only 10 looks long, but each one was a smash hit! With embroidery and detail work that took as long as 4,000 hours, Givenchy is setting a new standard of couture. I guess this is when creative meets OCD, which I totally love ! I’m especially loving the mongo Viking hat that can fit several midgets in. Givenchy’s inspiration supposedly was Japanese Anime, which I kinda see and don’t see. I think after a few episodes of Yu-Gi-Goh! ,everything starts looking manga-ish. I also like the smidge of neon/pastel color in the back. It’s like elegant in the front and a rave in the back. I give this collection my stamp of approval courtesy of Miss Darcheen and her luscious lip licking.

British designerJ. Smith Esquiremakes fantastic hats and accessories fit for the modern Victorian lady. Is that an oxymoron? Hmmmm… I’m especially digging the fur hats- it’s like a cat on your head- that’s always good in my universe. I also love the stained glass hat. Speaking of stained glass, here are some photos I took of the newly remodeled Limelight in NYC:

Stained glass is the best! It’s like a forever rainbow! (yes, I’ll always be a four year old at heart.)

Anyway, the that neck piece in the fourth photo is pretty killer! That’s a statement piece if ever there was one… Brilliant work, J!

The Heel Condomis probably the most simple way to class up a pair of heels. That is if your definition of classy is a leopard leotard with matching fingerless opera length gloves. No! Some of the designs are actually ok. Puerto Rican designer Sandrysabel Ortiz (picture her with a margarita in hand and wearing a marabou robe from the latest Forplay catalog) designed these clever contraptions to dress up any boring pair of heels. They make even the cheapest heels, well… even cheaper. Kidding! Go to the site, ignore the The Nanny-inspired music on the site, and get yourself a pair!

First off- The designer that had to fill Alexander McQueen shoes must have been shitting her pants.

Secondly, She did a pretty good job.

Thirdly, that hair at the show was beyond SPECTACULAR! It was like a basket came to life! It was like a checkerboard – how did they do that? While I ponder this, I remember I had done a hair show in NYC ages ago and I was modeling for Paul Mitchell and they did a dye job exactly like that- a checkerboard. Blonde and brunette. Only thing was that I was a demonstration model, so after doing only one side of my hair they kicked my ass off stage! So, I was walking around with the most effed up hair west of the Port Authority. That’s saying a lot considering the area. Anyway, a Feria dye job later I was back to normal, but needless to say it was a scarring experience.

Anyway, this collection was great- my favorites are the orange dress with butterflies emerging from the collar and the greyish, white feather dress in the first photo. That gold and cream dress (photo 5) was equally stunning, too. Still, it’s such a shame a huge talent is gone.

This season, Karl the Kaiser must have had inspiration strike as he watched his maid dust his 200 ipods.Why? Because feathers were everywhere at the Chanel Spring 2011 show! I personally love feathers and marabou and anything fluffy, furry and soft. So this is right up my alley! Specifically, the alley with the most stray Persian cats (do they even exist??) but that’s a different story. Anyway, although Chanel is one of my all-time favorite designers, this particular collection didn’t “wow” me enough. Seriously, the feathers saved Karl’s ass, because feathers make everything instantly fancy and precious. At least in my book and Alexis Carrington’s book ( coincidentally, we share similar books). When in doubt, add a feather- that’s my quote along with 183,464,503 drag queens.

Latvian fashion stylist/designer/illustratorBaibaLaDiga latest series include a creepy bunny (that looks kinda robotic and animatronic- actually Chuck E. Sleaze would totally adopt that one) running around the ‘hood looking for someone to harass for carrots. I really love the jacket with the poufy sleeves- so Victorian! That Chinese sign is totally throwing me off, though. Here are another set of photographs by Baiba LaDiga ….

These are ‘The Birds’ series with dresses designed by LaDiga. Those are plastic strips on the dress so naturally a pleasant snap and crackle are heard as you walk. Pretty cool, huh?

Alexander McQueen is one of my favorite designers because he makes the most fupe looking clothes look desirable. He has pushed the boundaries (once again) by taking houndstooth and tweeds and turning them upside down, inside out and around creating a completely new and fresh look. With umbrella hats and trash bag inspired fabrics, McQueen made the strange , chic. McQueen sent out models with exaggerated lips (could be candy lips?) and towering heels beckoning the podiatrists back into our lives. Once ensemble resembled a feather straightjacket! Genius- she literally went Cuck-coo! The question is – is it wearable? Why the hell not!? The world is crumbling, but at least we have our clothes!

PS- Alexander McQueen has released a budget friendly collection this month at select Target stores- be sure to check it out!